Functionalist and Marxist perspectives on the family: Practice Questions

Which term is used by sociologists to describe a family structure formed when one or both partners have children from a previous relationship?

Which branch of feminism is most likely to argue that the family should be abolished through the process of separatism because it is the primary source of male dominance over women?

Which term does Ulrich Beck use to describe the modern family form that is no longer governed by tradition but is instead constantly being re-defined by its members?

According to George Murdock, which function of the family ensures the survival of the next generation by providing them with basic needs and teaching them social norms?

How does Louis Althusser, from a Marxist perspective, describe the family's role in a capitalist society?

What is meant by the term 'secularisation' in relation to changing patterns of marriage and divorce?

Explain how Marxist feminists view the role of 'unpaid domestic labour' in supporting a capitalist economy.

Analyse how the rise of diverse family forms, such as reconstituted and same-sex families, challenges traditional sociological views on the family structure.

Explain and assess the Marxist perspective on the family, outlining its main arguments and discussing its key criticisms.

"The traditional nuclear family remains the cornerstone of social stability, and recent social changes have undermined its essential functions."

With reference to this statement, evaluate the functionalist perspective on the family, and discuss how feminist theories challenge this view.